Masonry construction has always been known for its durability, as it is able to sustain harsh conditions depending on the weather and geographical location. It also gives an attractive appearance and requires relatively low maintenance. The use of materials in masonry construction ranges from stone foundations to brick walls. Since some masonry foundations tend to be susceptible to accelerated deterioration, they were either painted or covered with stucco for protection. In addition to the weather and location, water can be a primary cause for the deterioration of masonry foundations.
The common causes of masonry deterioration are:
•Climatic Conditions: Excessive moisture within masonry foundations due to extreme hot and cold climatic conditions causes the masonry to expand and contract at different rates, weakening the masonry’s bond with the mortar.
•Uneven Settlement: Uneven settlement, deterioration of materials like rusting iron anchors or rotting window lintels, washing out of internal bonding and mortar and other structural problems, as a result of water flowing through walls.
•Weathering: Mortar that is generally used to help in the freeze-and-thaw expansion-and-contraction of masonry walls is washed away with heavy rains, wind and pollution.
•Design and Materials: Poor design and inappropriate materials used for masonry construction under different weather conditions and geographical locations can lead to several foundation problems.
•Exterior Maintenance: Proper maintenance of the exterior of a masonry construction will minimize most of the problems that lead to masonry deterioration. It is essential to install properly functioning gutters, downspouts and flashing to avoid dampness, water accumulation at foundations and growth of vegetation due to water penetration.
The following are some of the significant problems that come along with masonry construction due to moisture deterioration:
1. Severe climatic conditions like extreme temperatures, wind speeds and directions, high humidity levels and heavy snow can deteriorate masonry foundations, including cracking, spalling, surface erosion and efflorescence. Violent waves, debris carried by waves and heavy deposits of ice on masonry constructions can damage the strength and features of the foundations.
2. Severe freeze-thaw cycles can cause damage from frost action if moisture is trapped in walls or there is lack of total structure ventilation. In addition, they can also cause condensation that will encourage mold growth.
3. Locations by the sea can lead to efflorescence on the masonry due to high salt content in the air.
4. Industrial areas cause acid rains that can damage limestone, marble, sandstone and concrete.
5. Foundations and walls are usually immersed in water for a long time during natural calamities like floods and this can lead to damage.
6. Absorption of water depends on the type of soil and influences water drainage around the structure. Excess water in the soil leads to dampness, giving rise to issues with the foundation.
7. During heavy rains, puddles of water form around buildings that do not have proper slopes. This may lead to localized ground saturation and water penetration.
8. There are possibilities of water penetration in brick or stone foundations that are laid close to the earth.
9. Trees and vegetation like ivy and creepers prevent proper drying of masonry foundations by allowing water penetration in the joints which lead to erosion.
Therefore, it is important to identify the cause of moisture deterioration in masonry constructions in order to fix the problem and avoid further damage. Alternative solutions are waterproofing the foundation to prevent leakage, replacing cracked bricks and stones and repointing mortar joints. Consulting a skilled masonry craftsman or inspector will help in diagnosing the problem and bring about quick solutions. At Keystone Basement Systems, we specialize in foundation structural repair and waterproofing services, which come along with experienced professionals. You can also visit our blog at http://blog.keystonebasementsystems.com/ for easy tips on foundation repair and waterproofing.
For more on basement related solutions, click on to www.keystonebasementsystems.com.
“Keystone Basement Systems, Inc. is a foundation repair company. KBS is not, however, an engineering firm and should not be considered as such.”
References
1. http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/handbook/masonry1.pdf
2. http://www.oldhouseweb.com/how-to-advice/masonry-foundations-and-piers.shtml
3. http://www.onlinetips.org/masonry-deterioration
4. http://www.riverheadli.com/HPG.Masonry.pdf
You must be wondering how a closed area like a basement would invite chances for dampness. When the level of humidity is high, the amount of moisture increases in the atmosphere. The condensation of moist, warm air on cold interior wall and floor surfaces is more than enough to create dampness in your basement. Wet walls, foggy windows and tiny droplets on cold surfaces are good signs of high levels of humidity. When air is able to hold water vapor at a particular temperature, the relative humidity is 100%. If it goes beyond, that is when condensation takes place, causing dampness.
A basement or a crawl space is usually a closed area and is not frequently used as compared to the other rooms in the house. This reduces the amount of air entering into the basement. A musty odor in the basement develops due to lack of circulation of air. This can be found out by opening the windows in your basement and switching on the exhaust fans on one fine day to allow air circulation. If the bad odor in your basement does not exist, then you have the answer to your problem!
The chances of water penetration in the basement are always high, since it is located below the ground where water gets accumulated. There are basically two ways in which water can enter into the basement, through the foundation walls and the basement floor. When water gets soaked in the soil, there is always pressure of the heavy water to push through the foundation walls. If there are any cracks or joints on the walls, then water is sure to pass through depending on the quantity and pressure of water against the walls. Stains on the concrete, paneling of a finished basement and efflorescence are common indicators of water penetration. Corners of basements are also popular for water penetration caused by the discharge of rain water from the rain down spout in this area.
Humidity is a result of relative humidity where moisture is suspended in the air. A dehumidifier is a device that helps reduce humidity in any building or room by removing moisture from the air. Dehumidifiers play a vital role in preventing mold, bacteria and biological allergens, musty odors, and furniture, carpeting, storage box mildew damage that arise when humidity levels are above 50%.
Dew point, or otherwise better known as dew point temperature, is the temperature at which the liquid and gaseous phases of a material present in a gas, such as water in air, are in equilibrium at a given gas pressure. In the case of water, the temperature at which both evaporation and condensation of water take place are the same. An interesting point to note about dew point is that it is related with evaporation, condensation and relative humidity.
Relative Humidity
4. Vehicles
Household activities such as cooking, washing and drying clothes are responsible for the excess moisture present in the air within your home. An average family creates around 20 pints of water vapor per day. This can be usually seen in the form of fog, mist, dew or frost in the atmosphere and plays a significant role in the formation of clouds, rain and snow.
(a) Grading: One would wonder as to what the soil has to do with a drainage system. Proper grading of the soil around the house would eliminate the entrance of water into the basement. Creating slopes would drive away water before it reaches the basement walls. In fact, this method would not even require a basement drainage.
Basements are usually recommended in areas that have steep slopes and experience extreme cold climatic conditions with low temperature and deep frost penetration. Deeper excavation comes in a package along with the construction and structure of basements, which of course increases costs, but results in a reliable, cozy and comfortable space.
Basement dehumidifiers are the best solution to reducing the humidity in the basement to normal recommended levels, which is between 40-60%. They are of two types, the portable unit and the installed unit. The portable unit is user-friendly, whereas the installed unit requires a qualified professional for installation. The latter are usually installed with a fan, heating pump and cooling coil. The moisture in the air is drawn by the fan over the heat pump. This water vapor is then condensed into water through the cooling coil and collected into a holding tank and can be removed either manually or through a drain hose installed in the unit. The installed basement dehumidifier is more efficient as compared to the portable one, which also explains why it is more expensive.